Such is the dilemma at E3, the world's biggest video game expo held each June in Los Angeles.

More than 50,000 attendees from nearly 100 countries packed into the Los Angeles Convention Center to lay their hands on video games, consoles, gaming PCs and accessories scheduled to make their debuts in the next year or two.

As you might expect, there's a lot to see and play on the showroom floor, behind closed doors and at parties — and only three days in which to do it — but now that the thumb swelling has subsided (somewhat), the following are a few notable Teen- and Mature-rated blockbuster action game highlights from this year's show.

HOT EXCLUSIVES

If last year's show was all about the hardware — primarily, the heated battle for the family room between Sony's PlayStation 4 (PS4) and Microsoft's Xbox One — E3 2014 focused almost exclusively on the games. And there were plenty.

Some of the explosive first-party titles worth highlighting — that is, exclusive games that can only be played on one machine or another — dominated much of E3 chatter earlier in the week.

Xbox kicked off E3 with a quick teaser to Halo 5: Guardians, an epic sci-fi shooter due out next year for Xbox One. But the gaming giant spent more time showcasing Halo: Master Chief Collection, a bundle featuring Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3 and Halo 4. Due Nov. 11, this disc will also include more than 100 multiplayer levels, downloadable content (DLC) and other goodies — all mastered in 1080p HD resolution and running at a smooth 60 frames per second.

Another Xbox One exclusive, Insomniac Games' Sunset Overdrive is an over-the-top third-person shooter that takes place in the near future, where the world is controlled by the FizzCo Corporation. You play as an employee who must clean up the mess following the launch of an energy drink that has transformed people into mutants. Along with running and gunning, this colorful open-world action game includes agile-based combat including zip lines and midair acrobatics. Up to 8 people can play cooperatively in a newly announced mode called Chaos. Expect it on Oct. 28.

Sony delivered the goods with its exclusive AAA titles for the PS4, including a first look at Uncharted 4: A Thief's End as a finale to its press conference. Arguably the most lifelike characters in a video game seen at this year's E3, developer Naughty Dog claims the trailer's visuals were all in-game footage from the PS4 and not computer graphics (CG), typically created for non-interactive cut-scene sequences. Too bad we didn't get to see any of the game play, but Nathan Drake will return to the small screen in a new adventure sometime in 2015 (if not later).

Another impressive — but creepier — game is Sony's The Order: 1886, which takes place in an alternate London during the Victorian era. In this universe, you'll rely on advanced weaponry to stave off mythological beasts tearing apart the city. Due out for PS4 on February 20, 2015, The Order: 1886 plays out like a movie, thanks to its film-like third-person presentation. The game is in development at Ready At Dawn Studios, of Daxter and God of War fame.

Another Victorian thriller from Sony was a behind-closed-doors demo for Bloodborne, a gothic action-adventure by Japan's FROM Software, creators of the acclaimed Demon's Souls and Dark Souls games. Produced by Sony Computer Entertainment America, this new franchise is dark, bloody and atmospheric. You roam across a fictional 19th century town to slay demons, big and small. We witnessed a boss battle against a huge, frightening beast. No word on when this PS4 exclusive will make its debut.

Sony's Project Morpheus virtual reality (VR) helmet also proved to be a dizzying good time upstairs at Sony's booth, with a pair of vertigo-inducing demos to showcase the immersive, 360-degree visuals, head-tracking and spatial audio. No release date has been announced.

While not a surprise, Nintendo's booth was jammed with gamers eager to play Super Smash Bros., due this fall for both Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Wii U. The cartoon brawler lets you choose your favorite Nintendo character (or your own customizable Mii character) and battle it out in a number of fantasy environments, granting each character an arsenal of 36 moves. Super Smash Bros. also marks the debut of Nintendo's Amiibo toy-to-life action figure series, which will launch in November. Nintendo also teased the crowd with the next installment of The Legend of Zelda, scheduled for 2015.

BRINGING IN THE BIG GUNS

Speaking of action games, E3 introduced many buzz-worthy first-person shooters and third-person thrillers, playable on both Xbox 360 and PS4.

After spending some hands-on time with Bungie's Destiny— an online multiplayer shooter played with or without friends on numerous planets and moons in our solar system — I'm certain this seven-years-in-the-making game will no doubt satisfy fans when it makes its debut for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One on Sept. 9. The first in a planned trilogy, the open-world sci-fi game from the creators of Halo is an ambitious action game with elements borrowed from the MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) genre.

As you might expect, Activision took the wraps off Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, the next chapter in the publisher's best-selling military series. This time around, the game takes place in 2054, with much more advanced weaponry (including a devastating energy weapon). Actor Kevin Spacey plays Jonathan Irons, founder of a private military company, who launches an attack on America. Developed by Sledgehammer Games for Xbox One, PS4 and PC (and High Moon Studios for Xbox 360 and PS3), this multiplatform game will hit retail shelves on Nov. 4.

Electronic Arts' Battlefield Hardlinetakes more of an urban approach with a deadly "cops and robbers" theme. Out Oct. 21 for Xbox One, PS4 and PC, this first-person shooter takes place on the streets of Los Angeles and Miami.

Even more impressive, perhaps, was EA's Star Wars Battlefront, currently in development at DICE — the previous developer of Battlefield before handing the new game off to Visceral Games. It fuses intense first-person action with familiar Star Wars locations, characters and storylines. Scheduled for a 2015 launch on multiple platforms, this game looked spectacular at the show — with character models and environments so realistic-looking, you might think it's a Star Wars film (be sure to check out the trailer on YouTube).

What do you do after selling more than 75 million Assassin's Creed games since 2007? If you're Ubisoft, you launch a brand new adventure in the coveted franchise. Dubbed Assassin's Creed: Unity, the game now places you in the middle of Paris during the French Revolution and features the most immersive city environment in the game series to date. Due in October for Xbox One, PS4 and PC, the new stealthy game introduces cooperative ("co-op") play for the first time in an Assassin's Creed game, allowing for up to four friends to take part in story-driven online missions.